Road Bike Help

[sketch1]

Alright, so I am about to make a purchase for a Road Bike. But before I do I wanted to see if anyone had any brand reccomendations for me.

As of now my plan is to get a BMC SL01 with Ultegra 10 Speed components. It comes with an Easton Carbon front fork (alumminum steerer) and carbon seat stays.

There is a chance that I am not going to be able to actually purchase this bike, I am waiting to hear back from BMC next week before I will know.

So if that happens and I can't get this bike , does anyone have any reccomendations? Whatever I get I am going to buy a frameset, not a complete bike. I want to get to build it myself and it will be cheaper for me that way.

The frame also needs to have carbon seatstays and a carbon fork, the roads here are just to rough for full steel or alluminum.

I have been eyeing Salsa, Douglas, Kona, Bianchi and Jamis. I want to stay away from brands like Specialized and Trek.

Also we are having a hard time deciding what fram size I would need. I am 5'8" and I would need ideally a 53cm frame, but that is not an option, so any road bikers here that are my size? Do you ride a 52 or 54? I realize that it also depends if you are riding a compact frame or a standard but any help would be great.

 

[mtnracer]

Alright, so I am about to make a purchase for a Road Bike. But before I do I wanted to see if anyone had any brand reccomendations for me.

As of now my plan is to get a BMC SL01 with Ultegra 10 Speed components. It comes with an Easton Carbon front fork (alumminum steerer) and carbon seat stays.

There is a chance that I am not going to be able to actually purchase this bike, I am waiting to hear back from BMC next week before I will know.

So if that happens and I can't get this bike , does anyone have any reccomendations? Whatever I get I am going to buy a frameset, not a complete bike. I want to get to build it myself and it will be cheaper for me that way.

The frame also needs to have carbon seatstays and a carbon fork, the roads here are just to rough for full steel or alluminum.

I have been eyeing Salsa, Douglas, Kona, Bianchi and Jamis. I want to stay away from brands like Specialized and Trek.

Also we are having a hard time deciding what fram size I would need. I am 5'8" and I would need ideally a 53cm frame, but that is not an option, so any road bikers here that are my size? Do you ride a 52 or 54? I realize that it also depends if you are riding a compact frame or a standard but any help would be great.

I assume that you have a pretty big budget considering you want a BMC. If this is true, consider an IF frame. The full name is Independent Fabrications. The website is http://www.ifbikes.com/

They make the frames custom to your specs. Typically this requires going to a licensed IF dealer as they need to measure your body and determine your riding style.

If you don't need custom work, also consider Litespeed, Merlin, Airborne and DEAN.

Good luck.

 

[toybox]

I really love Cannondales, I've owned many. Can't really argue any points I just think they are great, light bikes that are not only made in the USA but in my home state of Pennsylvania.

Right now I have a Scalpel 2000 (Mtn bike) and Cannondale road bike but it is set up like a cyclocross/commuter bike

 

[sketch1]

Re: Re: Road Bike Help

I assume that you have a pretty big budget considering you want a BMC. If this is true, consider an IF frame. The full name is Independent Fabrications. The website is http://www.ifbikes.com/

Not to big of a budget I am looking to spend about 1,600ish.

I am getting all my components at cost as well as the frame. I have the means to get Look, Lightspeed, Douglas, Specialized, Cannondale, Salsa, Surly, Ritchey, and Jamis all at or around cost.

No matter what I get I refuse to pay retail.

 

[mtnracer]

Re: Re: Re: Road Bike Help

Not to big of a budget I am looking to spend about 1,600ish.

I am getting all my components at cost as well as the frame. I have the means to get Look, Lightspeed, Douglas, Specialized, Cannondale, Salsa, Surly, Ritchey, and Jamis all at or around cost.

No matter what I get I refuse to pay retail.

I mountain bike and I never pay retail either - buddy works at a bikeshop. Sweet....

If you can get Litespeed you should also be able to get Merlin as they are made by the same company in Tennessee:

http://www.americanbicyclegroup.com/

Usually if a shop is a dealer for one line, i.e. Litespeed, they can special order bikes in another line (Merlin) by the same company.

Out of all the choices I would probably go with Litespeed. Ritchey would be an interesting choice if you need a travel bike as they have a folding model that is full size.

I did ride the top line Cannondale at interbike last year and thought it rode very well. Made in USA too.

Screw Specialized and their high priced Taiwan-Special bikes.